The Uprising of Dignity
The Zapatista Movement in Chiapas, Mexico

Trailer:

On the first of January 1994 – under the motto “Ya Basta!” – “Enough!” – thousands of indigenous men and women occupied seven cities in the southern Mexican state Chiapas.The Zapatistas (named after the revolutionary Emilio Zapata (1879-1919)) fought a two week armed struggle against corruption, racism, and repression. Since then they have used peaceful civilian means to improve the living conditions of the population. The Zapatistas occupied areas owned by large landowners, divided the land between thousands of families and have been building autonomous civil structures ever since.

The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) rebellion was for land rights, health, education, freedom, democracy, peace and justice. The Zapatista movement does not seek to take control of the state. Instead the organisation demanded a profound democratisation of the whole country and a rejection of neoliberal economic policy. The local and national political leaders are still reacting with miltary force, repression and disinformaion campaigns. The EZLN sees its rebellion in a global context, and in 1996 called for the formation of an “International of Hope” in order to fight together with other movements for a solidary society and the preservation of nature.

In 2005, the EZLN launched its latest initiative (“The Other Campaign”), the objectives being a new constitution for Mexico and the strengthening of the global resistance to capitalism. In a long term mobilization  independent organizations are to build an extra-parliamentary alliance in order to create a new left and anti-capitalist alternative.

The documentary provides an introduction to the topic, insights into the self-administering structures in the areas of health, education, agriculture and collective work, as well as an explanation of the Zapatista politics. Thirdly, the difficulties are discussed – both within the movement as well as in relation to the government. Contributions are made from scientists, human rights activists and journalists and particularly from women and men from the roots of the Zapatista movement.

Production: Zwischenzeit e.V., Münster, Germany
Contact: zz-colectivo@gmx.net
DVD 65 min. – Germany / Mexico 2007 / 2011
Original (Spanish) with subtitles in English

Price: 16,- Euro – Shipping charges: 4,- Euro
(With the proceeds we finance the distribution of free copies in Latin America.)

Send your orders to => zz-colectivo@gmx.net

Best wishes and solidarity,

The Zwischenzeit Film Collective

Saludos compas,

Desde El Barrio, Nueva York, el pueblo migrante del Movimiento por Justicia del Barrio, La Otra Campaña Nueva York, les enviamos saludos y abrazos cariñosos.

Aqui les enviamos el primer videomensaje de parte de Movimiento por Justicia del Barrio para San Sebastián Bachajón.

El 23 de junio del 2011, en San Sebastián Bachajón, Chiapas, l@s ejidatarios se juntaron en una asamblea especial sobre las acciones que se han organizado al nivel mundial en apoyo a su digna lucha y por la liberación de sus cinco presos políticos.

Durante ese día se compartieron todas las cronicas, fotos y la declaración mundial en apoyo a Bachajón.

Esa noche también se volvió a romper la frontera neoliberal con la presentación del primer videomensaje de parte de Movimiento por Justicia del Barrio, La Otra Campaña Nueva York para San Sebastián Bachajón. Este videomensaje es una respuesta a tres videomensajes que l@s ejidatarios han enviado.

Presentation of the book
Bajo la sombra del guamúchil:
Historias de vida de mujeres indígenas y campesinas en prisión
Cideci-Unitierra, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, 7 July 2011.

The book tells the stories of indigenous and mestizo women (almosta all of them of rural origin) prisoners at Cereso Morelos, where 206 women and 15 children have been isolated from society by a legal system that views punishment and imprisonment as a solution in the face of the failure of a social model, which through exclusion and poverty has contributed to produce criminality. These publications (book and video) attempt to aproximate us to such experiences of inequity through the voices and writings of nine prisoners, within the context of the “Life Stories” workshop.

Introduction – Rosalva Aída Hernández (co-author):(Descarga aquí)  

Commentaries – Gabriela Patishtán (Voces Inocentes), Mercedes Oliveira, Xóchtil Leyva:(Descarga aquí)  

Questions and answers:(Descarga aquí)  

(Continuar leyendo…)

On April 28, 2011, the EZLN declared with a communiqué that it would participate on May 7 in the Silent March for Peace, called for by the poet Javier Sicilia. On May 7 in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, tens of thousands of Zapatista bases of support, together with communities, organizations and individuals adherents to the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle, marched to the Plaza of Resistance in front of the San Cristóbal Cathedral. Comanders of the EZLN read a speech sent by Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos for the Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous Committee – General Command of the EZLN.

(Listen to and read the full speech here.)

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